Rachel’s Vineyard and Silent No More Strategize Together at Leadership Conference

Priests for Life

July 20, 2011

Malvern, PA – The second full day of the Rachel’s Vineyard Leadership Conference took place yesterday, with clergy and laity from around the world meeting for workshops that dealt with the psychological and spiritual aspects of post-abortion trauma and healing.

There was also a strong emphasis on Tuesday on the public relations aspect of post-abortion healing. Catholic media expert and broadcaster Teresa Tomeo led a number of sessions urging the post-abortion leaders to use the media to trumpet the Church’s invitation to repentance and healing, and to educate society about how harmful abortion is.

One of the ways this is done is through the testimonies of the men and women who have decided to be “Silent No More” about their experiences. Georgette Forney, President of Anglicans for Life, and Janet Morana, Executive Director of Priests for Life, co-founded the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. Both leaders also presented at the Conference, which is being attended by Silent No More regional coordinators from around the world. The partnership between Rachel’s Vineyard and Silent No More is a natural one. Both are ministries of Priests for Life, and many who share their abortion testimony found their healing in Rachel’s Vineyard.

A new version of the official guidelines for Silent No More leaders was issued yesterday, and a more deliberate strategy of collaboration between Silent No More and Rachel’s Vineyard was reviewed.

Among the activities at the Conference today will be a special meeting of psychiatrists and other medical professionals who are experts in the work of Rachel’s Vineyard and Silent No More.

Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.